African independence during HIV funding uncertainty

HAVING just commemorated World AIDS Day on December 1, it marks a moment of profound challenge and opportunity.

- THERESA ROSSOUW

For more than four decades, the global HIV community has shared a clear vision: zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. However, this year, that vision stands at a crossroads. The US, historically the largest global funder of HIV programmes through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has imposed significant budget cuts.

This decision has far-reaching consequences for countries such as South Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden of HIV infection. It is home to about 26 million of the 41 million people living with HIV worldwide - approximately two-thirds of the global total - and still accounts for roughly half of all new infections each year.

The statistics further reflect per sistent gender inequality and social drivers that continue to fuel the epidemic: 63% of all new HIV infections in the region were among women and girls, and 3 300 adolescent girls and young women contracted HIV every week.